Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability in the United States, and timely access to comprehensive rehabilitation is a critical determinant of functional recovery and quality of life (QoL). However, substantial gaps persist in access to stroke rehabilitation services due to workforce shortages, geographic barriers, health system fragmentation, and disparities affecting underserved populations. Many clinicians and health system leaders are not fully familiar with emerging models of care delivery — such as tele-rehabilitation, technology-enabled rehabilitation, and community-based recovery programs — that have the potential to expand access to rehabilitation services beyond traditional care settings. In addition, healthcare organizations face challenges in integrating innovative technologies and system-level strategies that can improve coordination, equity, and scalability of stroke recovery services. This educational activity aims to address these gaps by presenting current evidence, emerging technologies, and health system approaches that can improve access to stroke rehabilitation and support recovery beyond traditional care environments.
